This is a chart I made as a quick reference for one of my Cook projects. You will need to log in to FamilySearch  to follow the links but viewing is free with registration. The tax lists for this area and time period are available at FamilySearch but aren't indexed so making this is a timesaver as I will be frequently revisiting the lists during the project. At least they have a good bit of the later years(Ancestry doesn't for this area.) I thought maybe it would be useful for others so I'm sharing here.   Bedford Co TN Tax Lists 1875-1888 Tax Year Film Yrs IGN Begin ..read more

While working on a timeline project for my Cook research it became apparent that the 1876 Bedford Co. Tennessee District 10 tax list that is on FamilySearch has a page that was missed during the filming process. Tax books, 1875-1895, 1897, 1899-1904, 1906-1923, 1925, 1931-1965 1875-1877 IGN 008659629  Image #274 has Surnames starting with the letter "A" thru a small portion of "C" https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-D3C6-4452?i=273 The next image, #275 has surnames beginning with the  letters G thru H. I contacted both the Tennessee State Library & Archives and t ..read more

This is Lurainy Jane Cook(daughter of Wm C Cook & Elizabeth Putman Cook) deeding land to Ebb McLain Lurana J Cook Deed to Ebb McLain I Lurana J Cook have this day bargained and sold  and do transfer and convey to Ebb McLain his heirs and assigne forver for the consideration of one hundred and forty dollars due the twenty fifth day of December 1887 by note the receipt which is hereby acknowledged for a certain tract of land in Civil District No 9 of Bedford County State of Tennessee bounded as follows Beginning with the lands of Ebb McLains seventy eight poles and ten links thence w ..read more

My transcription of the transfer and quit claim of a land purchased by Cass B Cook from Wm G Cook and his son John L Cook. The digitized copy of the deed is at FamilySearch and can be accessed via the reference link below the transcription.   Wm G Cook is my Great Grandfather and John L(who is refereed to as John Lamb and John Lamb Cook in several places although his name is John Lemuel Cook) is Wm G Cook's eldest son who is mentioned in W C Cook's will.  I've also included several other links below that concern Cass B. Cook (5 June 1857-15 March 1908) youngest son of Wm ..read more

Below are my transcriptions from the Bedford County Tennessee Road Work Book that concern J K Cook.  I believe he was overseer for the period from Oct 1874-1875 at which time N B King was appointed to take his place. These entries are part of the Cook Family timeline which will be an upcoming blog post.   It is nice to see the properties mentioned.   Oct 6 1874 This day the court is pleased to appoint J.K Cook over seer of the Road leading from Dogwood Grove Church Road in W C Taylors West boundary line to Versials  & Nicholas Mill Road at Joseph Hayne Sout ..read more

A few Bedford County Tennessee deeds involving Cass B Cook, youngest son of  Wm C Cook & Elizabeth Putman.  Cass B Cook & Wife(Clemenzy) to Lizzie Jackson--18 Nov 1889 Bedford Co TN Deed Book YYY 1889-1890 pp 197-8FamilySearch IGN 008567905 Img 127 of 641 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-89M6-M E Smotherman & Wife to C B Cook-- 29 Nov 1895 Bedford Co TN Deed Book 5 1897-1898  pg 419 FamilySearch IGN 008567908  Img 241 of 679  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-NCS1 H P Smotherman & Wife to Cass B Cook--9 ..read more

Adkins Upshaw is my 4th great grandfather. I found his estate return recorded in the Elbert Co. Georgia Will books on FamilySearch using the Full Text Search.   The transcription offered along with it was a mess but good enough that it could tell my search was for Adkins Upshaw.  So as an Index for search I love that.  I do not have the paid versions of any AI tools and used the free one thru my MS Edge browser and that likely affects the quality of the output along with my lack of knowledge in prompts. My prompt contained a copy and paste of the transcription text f ..read more

Osborn Pope, born before 1755 if we believe his age from the 1800 US Federal Census of Granville, wrote his will on 3 April 1811.  His will was recorded in Granville Co North Carolina in the February term of 1812. In the Index for Granville Records under Jane Nicholson's entry, it is listed as being recorded Feb 1818 however, the record itself shows that it was recorded in February Term of 1812--another reason to seek out earlier and original sources. Within the will are the names of some enslaved with details on what should happen  after his death. See will at the site listed in the ..read more

Image created using DALL-E3 I discovered a deed on which W C Cook(my 2nd Gr Grpa) was a witness.  It had to do with lands for the Union Ridge Church.  Record loss for the period of 1850ish to the early 1860s makes that era difficult to research, so anytime I find something covering that time period it really helps.  There was an attempt made to record lost deeds in a notebook by the county clerk.  Another great help is a book published on that effort by Helen and Tim Marsh.  Marsh, Helen C., and Tim R. Marsh. "The Burned Deed Index of Bedford County, Tennessee 1852 ..read more

  Sarah is a descendant of William Clifford & Elizabeth Putman Cook thru their son Jefferson Gideon Cook and his wife Martha Ann Hale.  There was an incredible amount of information contained in her obituaries.   Age: 70 Died: 30 Mar 1981 Funeral: Wed 1 Apr 1981 Foglesong Funeral Home at 2p.m. Memorial: Tues 31 Mar 1981 By Eastern Star at Funeral Home 7:30 p.m. Cremated interment in Oak Lawn Cemetery Born 15 Aug 1910 in Chicago Resident of Sturgis MI since 1972 Former Resident of Riverdale IL Married 10 March 1934 Survivors: Husband: Clarence M Kester Daughters ..read more